Outcomes of a Career Development Program for Underrepresented Minority Investigators in the AIDS Clinical Trials Group.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Velasquez GE
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6419986 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Outcomes of a Career Development Program for Underrepresented Minority Investigators in the AIDS Clinical Trials Group.
Velásquez Gustavo E GE Huaman Moises A MA Powell Kimberly R KR Cohn Susan E SE Swaminathan Shobha S Outlaw Martine M Schulte Gail G McNeil Quinteka Q Currier Judith S JS Del Rio Carlos C Castillo-Mancilla Jose J
Open forum infectious diseases 20190211 3
We surveyed awardees of the Minority HIV Investigator Mentoring Program (MHIMP) of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group. Most reported clinical specialization in infectious diseases or HIV medicine (86%), and all but 1 (95%) are engaged in medical/health sciences research. The MHIMP helped retain early-career minority investigators in HIV/AIDS-related research. ...[more]
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Project description:BackgroundRecently, there have been concerted efforts to improve racial and ethnic diversity in the physician-scientist workforce. Identifying factors associated with career choices among those underrepresented in medicine and science is a necessary first step to advance this objective. The aim of the present study was to assess the attitudes and factors associated with academic and research career interests among underrepresented predoctoral physician-scientists.MethodsA cross-sectional 70-question survey was distributed to all predoctoral single degree (MD or DO) and dual degree (MD/PhD or DO/PhD) trainees at 32 medical schools in the United States from 2012 to 2014. Main outcomes included factors important to advancement in academic medicine, intended medical specialty, and future career plans. To test the post-hoc hypothesis of whether trainees from underrepresented groups have differing perceptions of career trajectories and obstacles than their counterparts, we evaluated responses according to self-identified race/ethnic status using Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. All tests were two-sided and significance level of < 0.05 was used.ResultsThere were a total of 4433 responses representing all predoctoral training stages. The response rate was 27%. Most respondents were single degree trainees (MD/DO 79% vs MD/DO-PhD 21%). Most respondents self-identified as White (67%), followed by Multi-racial or Other (14.3%), Asian or Pacific Islander (10.4%), Hispanic (6%), and Black or African American (4.1%). Desired career sector, career intention, and clinical specialty interest differed across race/ethnic groups. With respect to career selection factors, anticipated non-work related responsibilities during residency were also significantly different between these groups. By multivariable regression analysis, Black or African American trainees were significantly less likely than White trainees to indicate a career in academia (OR 0.496, 95% CI 0.322-0.764) and basic research (OR 0.314, 95% CI 0.115-0.857), while Multi-racial or Other trainees were also less likely than White trainees to indicate a career in academia (OR 0.763, 95% CI 0.594-0.980).ConclusionsThese data represent the first in-depth survey of career aspirations, perceptions, and interests between demographically underrepresented and non-underrepresented predoctoral physician-scientist trainees. Our results identify key differences between these cohorts, which may guide efforts to improve diversity within the physician-scientist workforce.
| S-EPMC7656762 | biostudies-literature
Project description:CTSI Career Development Award (KL2) programs provide junior faculty with protected time and multidisciplinary, mentored research training in clinical and translational science research. The KL2 Visiting Scholars Program was developed to promote collaborative cross-CTSA training, leverage academic strengths at host CTSAs, and support the career development of participating scholars through experiential training and the development of new partnerships. This manuscript provides a detailed programmatic description and reports outcomes from post-visit and outcomes surveys. Since 2016, 12 scholars have completed the program, with 6 scheduled to complete it in 2021. Post-visit surveys (n = 12) indicate all scholars reported the program valuable to career development, 11 reported benefit for research development, and 11 expansion of collaborative networks. Outcomes surveys (n = 11) revealed subsequent scholar interaction with host institution faculty for 10 scholars, 2 collaborative grant submissions (1 funded), 2 planned grant submissions, 1 published collaborative manuscript, and 3 planned manuscript/abstract submissions. The Visiting Scholars Program is a cost- and time-efficient program that leverages the academic strengths of CTSAs. The program enhanced KL2 scholar training by expanding their professional portfolio, promoting research development, and expanding collaborative networks. Resources to support the program are shared in this report to expedite the development of similar programs at regional and national levels.
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Project description:A national sample of PhD-trained scientists completed training, accepted subsequent employment in academic and nonacademic positions, and were queried about their previous graduate training and current employment. Respondents indicated factors contributing to their employment decision (e.g., working conditions, salary, job security). The data indicate the relative importance of deciding factors influencing career choice, controlling for gender, initial interest in faculty careers, and number of postgraduate publications. Among both well-represented (WR; n = 3444) and underrepresented minority (URM; n = 225) respondents, faculty career choice was positively associated with desire for autonomy and partner opportunity and negatively associated with desire for leadership opportunity. Differences between groups in reasons endorsed included: variety, prestige, salary, family influence, and faculty advisor influence. Furthermore, endorsement of faculty advisor or other mentor influence and family or peer influence were surprisingly rare across groups, suggesting that formal and informal support networks could provide a missed opportunity to provide support for trainees who want to stay in faculty career paths. Reasons requiring alteration of misperceptions (e.g., limited leadership opportunity for faculty) must be distinguished from reasons requiring removal of actual barriers. Further investigation into factors that affect PhDs' career decisions can help elucidate why URM candidates are disproportionately exiting the academy.
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Project description:The reasons for minority underrepresentation in HIV/AIDS clinical trials remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate the knowledge, experience, and factors that influence minority participation in HIV/AIDS studies in the United States.An anonymous, bilingual, self-administered survey on study participation was given to HIV-infected adults attending AIDS Clinical Trials Group-affiliated clinics in the United States and Puerto Rico. Chi-square tests were used to evaluate differences by race, first language, and level of education. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for factors associated with being talked to about participation in a study.We analyzed 2,175 complete surveys (221 in Spanish). Among respondents, 31% were White, 40% were Black/African American (AA), and 21% were Hispanic. The overall rate of previous participation in any HIV/AIDS study was 48%. Hispanics were less likely to know about studies compared to Whites and AAs (67% vs 74% and 76%, respectively; P < .001). Compared to Whites, AAs and Hispanics were less likely to have been talked to about participating in a study (76% vs 67% and 67%, respectively; P < .001). The OR for being talked to about participating in a study was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.52-0.81) for AAs and 0.65 (95% CI, 0.49-0.85) for Hispanics, compared to Whites. AAs and Hispanics were more likely to state that studies were not friendly to their race (17% and 10% vs 4%; P < .001).Minorities continue to face barriers for HIV/AIDS trial participation, even when clinical research is available. Enrollment strategies should better target minorities to improve recruitment in HIV/AIDS research.
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Project description:Black and Hispanic American patients frequently develop earlier onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) and a more severe disease course that can be resistant to disease modifying treatments. The objectives were to identify differential methylation of genomic DNA (gDNA) associated with disease susceptibility and treatment responses in a cohort of MS patients from underrepresented minority populations. Patients with MS and controls with non-inflammatory neurologic conditions were consented and enrolled under an IRB-approved protocol. Approximately 64% of donors identified as Black or African American and 30% as White, Hispanic-Latino. Infinium MethylationEPIC bead arrays were utilized to measure epigenome-wide gDNA methylation of whole blood. Data were analyzed in the presence and absence of adjustments for unknown covariates in the dataset, some of which corresponded to disease modifying treatments. Global patterns of differential methylation associated with MS were strongest for those probes that showed relative demethylation of loci with lower M values. Pathway analysis revealed unexpected associations with shigellosis and amoebiasis. Enrichment analysis revealed an over-representation of probes in enhancer regions and an under-representation in promoters. In the presence of adjustments for covariates that included disease modifying treatments, analysis revealed 10 differentially methylated regions (DMR’s) with an FDR <1E-77. Five of these genes (ARID5B, BAZ2B, RABGAP1, SFRP2, WBP1L) are associated with cancer risk and cellular differentiation and have not been previously identified in MS studies. Hierarchical cluster and multi-dimensional scaling analysis of differential DNA methylation at 147 loci within those DMR’s was sufficient to differentiate MS donors from controls. In the absence of corrections for disease modifying treatments, differential methylation in patients treated with dimethyl fumarate was associated with immune regulatory pathways that regulate cytokine and chemokine signaling, axon guidance, and adherens junctions. These results demonstrate possible associations of gastrointestinal pathogens and regulation of cellular differentiation with MS susceptibility in our patient cohort. This work further suggests that analyses can be performed in the presence and absence of corrections for immune therapies. Because of their high representation in our patient cohort, these results may be of specific relevance in the regulation of disease susceptibility and treatment responses in Black and Hispanic Americans.
2023-02-07 | GSE219293 | GEO
Project description:Background: To reverse the dramatic decline in the U.S. physician-scientist workforce, interventions are necessary to retain physicians in research careers.Objective: To evaluate the impact of an annual 3-day symposium, the Respiratory Disease Young Investigators' Forum (RDYIF), designed to guide fellows and junior faculty into successful physician-scientist careers.Methods: In this retrospective, observational study, a questionnaire was e-mailed to 308 physicians who participated in the RDYIF between 2005 and 2018. The questionnaire was administered by National Jewish Health study personnel in the spring of 2019. Responses were primarily analyzed using descriptive and qualitative approaches.Results: The response rate was 39.3% (n = 121), with 107 of responders (88.4%) completing the full survey. The majority of survey completers currently worked as physician-scientists (76.6%; n = 82), held faculty positions (88.8%; n = 95) in an academic center (90.6%; n = 97), and were currently involved in research (93.4%; n = 100). The majority had been an author on ≥10 peer-reviewed publications (61.3%, n = 65) and had been awarded research grants (71.7%; n = 76). Thirty completers (28.3%) had served as a principal investigator on one or more clinical trials. Completers indicated that participation in the RDYIF had a "strong impact" or "very strong impact" on their career development as physician-scientists.Conclusion: Participation in the RDYIF strengthened participants' interest in physician-scientist careers and appeared to track with successful career development. Young Investigator Forums such as the RDYIF may be an effective intervention to support the declining supply of physician-scientists in North America.
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Project description:IntroductionHigh impact biomedical research is increasingly conducted by large, transdisciplinary, multisite teams in an increasingly collaborative environment. Thriving in this environment requires robust teamwork skills, which are not acquired automatically in the course of traditional scientific education. Team science skills training does exist, but most is directed at clinical care teams, not research teams, and little is focused on the specific training needs of early-career investigators, whose early team leadership experiences may shape their career trajectories positively or negatively. Our research indicated a need for team science training designed specifically for early-career investigators.MethodsTo address this need, we designed and delivered a 2-day workshop focused on teaching team science skills to early-career investigators. We operationalized team science competencies, sought the advice of team science experts, and performed a needs assessment composed of a survey and a qualitative study. Through these multiple approaches, we identified and grouped training priorities into three broad training areas and developed four robust, hands-on workshop sessions.ResultsAttendees comprised 30 pre- and post-doc fellows (TL1) and early-career faculty (KL2 and K12). We assessed impact with a pre- and post-workshop survey adapted from the Team Skills Scale. Results from the pre- and post-test Wilcoxon signed-rank analysis (n = 25) showed statistically significant improvement in team science skills and confidence. Open-ended responses indicated that the workshop focus was appropriate and well targeted to the trainees' needs.ConclusionsAlthough team science education is still very much in its infancy, these results suggest that training targeted to early-career investigators improves team skills and may foster improved collaboration.
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Project description:Introduction: Early team experiences can influence the professional trajectories of early-career investigators profoundly, yet they remain underexplored in the team science literature, which has focused primarily on large, multisite teams led by established researchers. To better understand the unique challenges of teams led by early-career investigators, we conducted a qualitative pilot study. Methods: Interviews were conducted with the principal investigator and members of 5 teams led by KL2 and K12 scholars at the University of Pittsburgh. A code book was developed and thematic analysis was conducted. Results: Seven distinct themes emerged. Interview subjects reported a high level of trust and strong communication patterns on their teams; however, the data also suggested underlying tensions that have the potential to escalate into larger problems if unaddressed. Conclusions: This study yields a deeper understanding of teams led by early-career investigators, which can help us provide appropriately targeted training and support.
| S-EPMC6390388 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionThe AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC) conducts clinical trials of therapeutic and prevention strategies for cancer in people living with HIV. With its recent expansion to Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, there was a need to increase the competence of clinical investigators (CIs) to implement clinical trials in these regions.MethodsAMC CIs were invited to complete a survey to assess role-relevance and self-perceived competence based on the Joint Task Force for Clinical Trials Competency domains.ResultsA total of 40 AMC CIs were invited to complete the questionnaire and 35 responded to the survey. The data management and informatics and engaging with communities' domains were lowest in the average proportion of CIs rating themselves high (scores of 3-4) for self-perceived competency (46.6% and 44.2%) and role-relevance (61.6% and 67.5%), whereas, the ethical and participant safety considerations domain resulted in the highest score for competency (86.6%) and role-relevance (93.3%). In the scientific concepts and research design domain, a high proportion rated for competency in evaluating study designs and scientific literature (71.4% and 74.3%) but a low proportion for competency for designing trials and specimen collection protocols (51.4% and 54.3%).ConclusionsGiven the complexity of AMC clinical research, these results provide evidence of the need to develop training for clinical research professionals across domains where self-perceived competence is low. This assessment will be used to tailor and prioritize the AMC Training Program in clinical trial development and management for AMC CIs.
| S-EPMC8057474 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundUnderrepresented minority (URM) cancer survivors experience disparities in mortality and quality of life, compared with non-Hispanic whites. Disparities are associated with poor social determinants of health, enhanced by mistrust of the healthcare system. Trust can be facilitated by provider-patient racial/ethnic concordance, yet URM survivors rarely experience concordance. Effective health communication is needed for this vulnerable population.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to systematically review evidence on the composition and utility of health education videos among adult URM survivors.MethodsLiterature searches were conducted in Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane, PsycInfo, and CINAHL databases. Articles that included adult URM cancer survivor samples and either described or tested a video intervention aimed to improve health outcomes were included. Two researchers independently screened articles for inclusion and quality appraisal and abstracted and synthesized relevant data to identify themes.ResultsEight articles, detailing 7 independent studies, met inclusion criteria. Quality appraisal of the included studies was fair to good. Six themes were identified: (1) video development with stakeholders, (2) focus on designing culturally appropriate videos, (3) in-clinic video delivery, (4) video intervention effects, (5) provider and URM survivors support video interventions, and (6) building trust through personal stories.ConclusionsVideo interventions are well received by URMs and improve outcomes yet are underutilized. More rigorous studies are warranted to develop best practices for video development and application.Implications for practiceVideos serve as an easy, effective tool to achieve favorable outcomes in the care of URM survivors.
| S-EPMC8544603 | biostudies-literature